Water-pressure regulator.



(No Modal.)

Patented Nov. 2u, |900.

WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR.

(Applcatjon filed Feb. 10, 1900.)

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Patented Nov. l2o.. |900.

WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR.

(Application led Feb. 101900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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lUNTTan STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR MUELLER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE II. MUELLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF SAME PLACE.

WATER-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,013, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed Iebruary l0, 1900. Serial No. 4,714. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, OSCAR MUELLER, ofthe city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water Pressure Regulators, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention provides a regulator that is capable of a greater variation in its regulatro ing scope and that is conformable to a greater variety of conditions than are Water-pressure regulators made prior to the conception by me of the conditions hereinafter explained.

The invention is exemplified in the struciure hereinafter described, and it is defined in the appended claim.

In water-pressure regulators of the Mueller7 type constructed prior to my invention the back pressure of the water on the outlet zo side of the regulator acts on a diaphragm of larger diameter than the valve in a direction to close the valve, so diminishing the passageway for the Water and reducing the pressure on the outlet side of the valve to an extent proportionate to the difference in area between the surface of valve or diaphragm on the valve-stein exposed to inlet-pressure and that exposed to resistance on the outlet side. The redneer-diaphragm on the outlet side of 3o the valve is so much larger than the area of surface subject to the direct inlet-pressure that the pressure may be reduced too much for some uses, and a spring` is introduced which acts against the back pressure when under tension and decreases the reduction to an extent corresponding to the tension at which it is set. This construction enables the reduction of pressure to belvaried to an extent to meet a variety of cases; 'out there 4o are conditions liable to arise at any time in which a greater range ot' variation becomes necessary, and one feature of my invention supplies this demand. 'lhere are also cases in which the regulators constructed prior to my invention have lacked adaptability to extremes of conditions in the matter of the rapidity with which a change of pressure in the housethat is, on the outlet side of the valve-is imparted to the valve-stem. As a 5o general principle the quicker the action of the valve in response to variation of pressure on the outlet side of the valve the better; but

there are conditions under which a strict adherence to this principle is dangerous on account of the development of Water-hammer in the regulator.

Another feature of my invention has reference to a. provision for adaptinga regulator to respond instantly to a variation of pressure on the outlet side Where there is no sudden 6o extreme variation of such pressure and to slightly delay the responsive action of the valve in cases Where damage might result from too rapid action-for inst-ance, Where Water-motors are used.

Thus it Will be seen that it is the object of my invention to increase the adaptability of Water pressure regulators and to produce regulators having a greater range of usefulness than was possible prior to my invention. 7o This I accomplish Without adding materially to the size,\veight,or expense of the regulator.

As is Well known, the valve-stems of regulators are for several reasons held in vertical positions and the tension-springs are sustained by the valve-stems. The weight of the valve-stem, the valves, the diaphragm, and the spring is considerable. All this has, prior to my invent-ion, tended to decrease the capacity of the regulatorfor reduction, and 8o Where extreme reduction has been required the diaphragm taking back pressure has been made large enough to in part counteract the tendency of the Weighted valve-stem to favor the inlet-pressure; but it is obvious that this weight cannot be entirely neutralized by differentiating the areas opposed, respectively, to inletpressure and back pressure, and sol have adopted the expedient of placing a spring under the valve-stem and letting such 9o spring sustain and entirely neutralize the weight of the valve-stem and its adjuncts. This enables me to start with a reduction that practically takes off all pressure on the outlet side without the useof an excessively large reducing-diaphragm, and of course the adjustable tension-spring above the stem enables me to favor the inlet-pressure to any extent desired.

To adapt the regulator to extremes of conroo dition regarding the rapidity with which the valve shall respond to variations of pressure on the outlet side of the regulator, I form a bypass in the body communicating with the space on. the outlet side of the valve and eX- tending to a space under the enlarged controlling-piston on the upper end of the stem land also extending to a space beneath the valve or piston on the lower end of the Valvestem. I make this by-pass large enough to carry as much water as is necessary to instantaneously impart valve-closing motion to 'the valve-stem when the pressure on the outlet side increases; but I provide a valve or adjustable closure by means of which the flow of water through the by-pass may be decreased to any desired extent. When the valve is entirely open, the water acting on both ends of the valve-stem, with a closing tendency in both cases, will cause the valve to respond with great sensitiveness to variations of pressure, and the flow of Water may be decreased by closing the by-pass to whatever extent is needed to prevent dangerously quick action of the regulator. The closing of the by-pass may be made to choke down the iiow of water to and from the valve-closing pistons to any desirable extent, and as a eertain pressure is required to move the valve toward a closed position and certain clearance in the by-pass is required to permit the inlet-pressure to act it will be seen how the restriction of ow in the by-pass slows down the action of the valve.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a water-pressure regulator embodying my invention, the section being taken lengthwise of the inlet and outlet passages. Fig. 2 is a like section taken at right angles with the Water-passages and through the bypass.

The body of the regulator is shown at 1, the valve-seat therein at 2, the inlet-passage at 3, and the outlet-passage at 4. At 5 is shown a valve-stem of the piston type. At 6 is shown the large piston on the upper end of the stem. At 7 is shown the valve located on the stem in the inlet-passage,which valve approaches more or less closely to the valveseat 2 to regulate the pressure on the outlet side of the regulator. At 8 is represented a piston on the valve-stem below valve 7 and coextensive therewith. At 9 is shown a casing for the tension-spring l0, and such spring is put under tension by means of'a screw 11, which bears against a plate 12 on the upper end of the spring. A set-nut 13 may be used to bind the screw 11 in any desired position of adjustment. All this shows a regulator of ordinary construction, and myimprovem'ents reside, first, inthe inverted cap 14 on the lower end of the body and a spring 15 in the cap under the valve-stem, and, second, in a by-pass 17, extending from the space on the outlet side of the regulator to spaces under thepistons 6 and 8.

The spring 15 is approximately strong enough to sustain the weight of the spring 10. The valve-stem and its adj uncts and its purpose and effect have been hereinbefore eX- plained.

The by-pass 17 is supplied with a controlling-valve 18, the stem of which is threaded in part and in part left smooth and extended through a stuing-box, as shown at 19. The main channel of the by-pass extends fromthe outlet-space 4 of the body of the regulator and the valve 18 closes against the end of the channel 17. After the water leaves channel 17 it separates, part of it traveling through channel 20 to aspace under piston 6, which is cut olf from the outlet-space of the body by a partition 16, and part traveling through channel 21 to the space under piston 8.

I claim- A water-pressure regulator having a bypass establishing commu nication between the outlet side of the regulator and spaces below pistons one on the upper end of the stem and the other on the lower end of the stem, and an adjustable closure for the by-pass.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR MUELLER.

Witnesses:

ERNEST SKELLEY, HAUBERT BLACK. 

